JPH10107983A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the facsimile equipment in which the user infers from possibility of a deficient memory capacity, change an image condition as required and recognizes it at how many memory spaces allow memory transmission of an original. SOLUTION: An operation section 3 of the facsimile equipment is provided with an original sheet number setting means by which the user sets the number of transmission original sheets, with a memory capacity deficiency discrimination means that estimates a memory capacity required to store all transmission original sheets based on the number of transmission original sheets set by the original sheet number setting means and on an information capacity of the 1st transmission original and compares the estimated result with a current idle memory capacity of an image memory storage section 2 detected by a idle capacity detection means to as to discriminate the possible memory deficient capacity, and with a memory deficiency warning means that allows a display means of the operation section 3 to display it when the memory capacity deficiency discrimination means discriminates a possible memory deficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in a memory transmission function in a facsimile apparatus having a memory transmission function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of memory transmission in which a large number of originals are once read and stored in a memory, and then transmitted using a facsimile apparatus, during the accumulation of image data, particularly immediately before the end of the accumulation of image data, If a memory full occurs, which causes the memory capacity to be full, remove the original to be sent, wait until the used image memory is free, and then resend it.
Or, it was necessary to change the image conditions, such as reducing the line density, and retransmit. Further, in a facsimile apparatus that automatically changes the image condition, the image condition may be changed without permission.

In the case of the former, the loss of work time required for accumulation halfway is large, and in the case of the latter,
In the case of a document with fine contents, there is a possibility that it will be sent as a coarse image without permission, the content of the document can not be read on the receiving side, and eventually the sender will be requested to send again.
This results in lost work time and wasted communication charges.
Further, the user did not know how long the image memory would be left before the memory transmission of the original document to be sent can be resumed.

[0004]

As described above, when a conventional facsimile apparatus performs memory transmission, if the memory becomes full during accumulation of image data, the original to be transmitted is removed once, and the used image memory is removed. It is necessary to retransmit after waiting, or to change the image conditions such as reducing the line density, or to change the image conditions without permission, and the memory becomes full. There is an inconvenience that the user is not left at all in estimating whether or not to change the image condition, and whether or not the image memory can be used to restart the transmission of the original memory.

The present invention solves this problem, and allows the user to detect the possibility of memory shortage, change the image conditions as needed, and determine how much image memory is available to transmit the original memory. It is an object of the present invention to realize a facsimile apparatus capable of knowing the information.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation unit having display means and image condition setting means for setting image conditions of an image to be transmitted, and operating an apparatus. Reading means for reading a document and converting it to image information, image memory storage means for storing image information read by the reading means, free space detection means for detecting free memory capacity of the image memory storage means, A facsimile apparatus comprising: a communication unit that transmits image information stored by the image memory storage unit and receives image information from another terminal; the operation unit includes a document number setting unit that allows a user to set a transmission document number; And estimating a memory capacity required for storing all transmitted originals from the number of transmitted originals set by the number of originals setting means and the information amount of the first transmitted original. A memory shortage judging unit for judging a possibility of a memory shortage by comparing with the free memory capacity detected by the free space detecting unit; and when the memory shortage judging unit judges that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the fact is described. Memory shortage warning means for displaying on the display means of the operation unit.

When the memory shortage judging means judges that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the image condition of the transmission image which does not cause the memory shortage with the current free memory capacity of the image memory storage means is changed by the operation unit. An image condition display means for displaying on the display means is provided.

Further, when the memory shortage determining means determines that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the transmission image currently set by the image condition setting means is determined by how long the free memory capacity of the image memory storage means becomes free. A memory capacity display means for displaying on the display means of the operation unit whether memory storage is possible under the following image conditions.

Further, when the memory shortage judging means judges that there is a possibility of memory shortage, the original to be transmitted is held, and when the free memory capacity of the image memory storage means increases and the possibility of memory shortage disappears. Automatic document transmission means for automatically reading the transmission document by the reading means, storing the read image information in the image memory storage means, and transmitting the stored image information by the communication means. It is characterized by the following.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input unit having a function of reading the black and white density of a transmission original, converting it into a binary signal, and taking in the image, and 2 denotes an image converted by the image input unit into a binary signal and taken in. An image memory storage unit for storing data after compressing the data by the data compression / decompression unit 7, an operation unit 3 having numeric keys, a start key, and the like for the user to operate, and 4 a modulation of a transmission digital signal and a reception digital signal. And a modem unit 5 for demodulating the digital signal. The modem unit 5 has an interface function for connecting an analog communication line and a facsimile machine system. During transmission, an analog signal obtained by modulating a digital signal via the modem unit 4 is transmitted to the analog line and received. NCU (line control unit) that sometimes performs automatic off-hook, etc., 6
Reference numeral denotes an image output unit having a function of outputting the received binary received image signal on paper or the like.

Reference numeral 7 denotes compression of the image data binarized by the image input unit 1 before the image data is stored in the image memory storage unit 2 or compression of the compressed data stored in the image memory storage unit 2 into the original binary image. A data compression / decompression unit having a function of decompressing data, a system control unit 8 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., for controlling the entire apparatus, and a display unit 9 displaying information relating to the operation unit 3 and information relating to a partner device. Display section, 1
0 indicates that when a document to be transmitted or copied is set, the document is automatically conveyed on the document table and scanned, and then discharged after scanning.
DF (automatic document feeder).

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation when facsimile memory transmission is performed in this embodiment. The transmission operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, if you want to send multiple originals by facsimile, after setting the originals,
The number of facsimile transmissions (Z) is set from the operation unit 3.
Further, transmission image conditions such as line density are set (step 101).

The image input unit 1 reads the transmission image information of the first sheet of the document, compresses the information according to the transmission image conditions by the data compression / decompression unit 7, and then stores the information in the image memory storage unit 2 (step 102). ). At this time, the memory capacity Y required for storing the transmission image information of the first document is measured, and the memory capacity X before storing the transmission image information of the first document is X / Y> It is determined whether or not Z (1) (step 103).

If equation (1) holds, the transmission image information of the second and subsequent pages of the document is sequentially read and compressed by the data compression / expansion unit 7 in accordance with the transmission image conditions. After all the information has been stored and stored in the storage unit 2, transmission is performed (step 104).

If the equation (1) does not hold, the display unit 9 displays "there is a possibility that the memory becomes full." And "Do you want to continue working?" Inform. Further, the current remaining capacity of the memory and the estimated total capacity of the transmission original are displayed, and the user waits for an input from the operation unit 3 (step 105).

In step 106, if the input from the user is to continue the work, it is inquired whether the automatic transmission mode is activated (step 107). In the automatic transmission mode, "ADF (automatic document feeding) is displayed on the display unit 9. Set the original to be transmitted again in the section. The memory transmission is started automatically as soon as the memory capacity is restored. "(Step 108). Then, the transmission is restarted as soon as the memory capacity of the image memory storage unit 2 exceeds the expected capacity of the transmission original (step 109).

On the other hand, if the automatic transmission mode is not set in step 107, reading of the image data of the second and subsequent pages of the transmission original is started (step 110), and if the memory is not full (step 111), transmission is performed (step 112). finish. If there is an instruction from the user to stop the work in step 106, or if the memory becomes full in step 111, the message "Remove the original and reset the transmission image condition is displayed on the display unit 9. Please resend. "(Step 113) and return to the start state.

FIG. 3 is an example in which a part of the flowchart of FIG. 2 is modified.
As shown on the display of the display unit 9, "there is a possibility that the memory will be full.", "If the transmission line density is xxxx, the transmission can be performed without the memory being full.", "Work as it is. Or "Do you want to set the transmission line density to
Change to? May be displayed to notify the user. In this case, as shown in FIG.
At 14, the transmission condition is changed. If the transmission condition has been changed, the process proceeds to step 110, and if the transmission condition has not been changed, the process proceeds to step 113, and the subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG.

[0019]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention has a display unit and an image condition setting unit for setting image conditions of an image to be transmitted, and an operation unit for operating the apparatus. Reading means for reading a document and converting it to image information, image memory storage means for storing the image information read by the reading means, free space detecting means for detecting the free memory capacity of the image memory storage means, In a facsimile apparatus including a communication unit that transmits image information stored in the image memory storage unit and receives image information from another terminal, the operation unit includes a document number setting unit that allows a user to set a transmission document number. Based on the number of transmission originals set by the number of originals setting means and the information amount of the first transmission original, the memory capacity necessary for storing all the transmission originals is estimated, and the free space detection means A memory shortage determination unit that determines the possibility of a memory shortage by comparing with the known free memory capacity and, when the memory shortage determination unit determines that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the fact is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit. Memory shortage warning means. As a result, the user can know whether there is a possibility of memory shortage when setting the transmission original, and can cope with the situation, thereby eliminating the loss of wasteful repetition of the document accumulation work.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, when the memory shortage judging means judges that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, a transmission image which does not cause a memory shortage with the current free memory capacity of the image memory storage means. Image condition display means for displaying the image condition on the display means of the operation unit. As a result, the user can know the image conditions of the transmission image that does not cause a memory shortage, and can change and transmit the image conditions as necessary. In this case, there is no need to remove the original once and set it again, which is efficient. Further, since the image condition is not automatically changed, an appropriate image can be transmitted to the receiving side.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3 of the present invention, when the memory shortage judging means judges that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the image condition setting means determines how long the free memory capacity of the image memory storage means will be freed later. It is characterized by comprising a memory shortage display means for displaying on the display means of the operation unit whether or not memory storage is possible under the currently set image condition of the transmission image. As a result, the user can determine how long a document can be transmitted, and can predict the transmission time. Even when the image memory is partially used, the work can be performed without waiting for the front part to be empty, so that the work efficiency is improved. Further, when the memory shortage determination unit determines that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the transmission original is held, and when the free memory capacity of the image memory storage unit is increased and the possibility of the memory shortage is eliminated, An automatic document transmitting means is provided which causes the reading means to read the transmission document, stores the read image information in the image memory storage means, and then transmits the stored image information by the communication means. Accordingly, the user is automatically transmitted by setting automatic document transmission, so that the user can leave the apparatus and perform other operations, thereby improving work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when memory transmission is performed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image input unit 2 image memory storage unit 3 operation unit 4 modem unit 5 NCU (line control unit) 6 image output unit 7 data compression / decompression unit 8 system control unit 9 display unit 10 ADF (automatic document feed unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] An operation unit for operating an apparatus, comprising: a display unit; an image unit for setting image conditions of an image to be transmitted; and a reading unit for reading an original and converting the original into image information; Image memory storing means for storing image information read by the reading means, free space detecting means for detecting free memory capacity of the image memory storing means, transmitting image information stored by the image memory storing means, A facsimile apparatus comprising: a communication unit that receives image information from a terminal; wherein the operation unit includes a document number setting unit that allows a user to set a transmission document number; and the transmission unit that is set by the document number setting unit. From the number of originals and the amount of information of the first original to be transmitted, the amount of memory required to store all transmitted originals is estimated and compared with the empty memory capacity detected by the empty space detector. Memory shortage determining means for determining the possibility of memory shortage; and memory shortage warning means for displaying, when the memory shortage determination means determines that there is a possibility of memory shortage, on the display means of the operation unit. A facsimile machine comprising: 2. When the memory shortage determination unit determines that there is a possibility of memory shortage, the image condition of the transmission image that does not cause memory shortage with the current free memory capacity of the image memory storage unit is set by the operation unit. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image condition display means for displaying on the display means. 3. The transmission image currently set by the image condition setting means when the memory shortage determination means determines that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, and how much free memory capacity of the image memory storage means is freed later. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory capacity shortage display unit for displaying on the display unit of the operation unit whether or not memory storage is possible under the following image condition. 4. When the memory shortage judging unit judges that there is a possibility of a memory shortage, the transmission original is held, and when the free memory capacity of the image memory storage unit increases and the possibility of the memory shortage disappears. Automatic document transmission means for automatically reading the transmission document by the reading means, storing the read image information in the image memory storage means, and transmitting the stored image information by the communication means. 4. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said facsimile apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.